anitarium authorities up to try to catch him."

"I hope they do catch him!" came from Jessie. "I'll never feel safe as
long as that man is at large."

CHAPTER XXI

THE ESCAPE

Mr. Dunston Porter had been down to Carpen Falls for a walk and to get
the mail. He returned late that evening, bringing several letters with
him. He was of course much surprised to learn of the capture of Link
Merwell, and listened with interest to the details concerning the
affair.

Among the letters which his uncle had brought along was one for Dave,
which he read with deep interest. It was from Nat Poole, who evidently
had not yet heard anything regarding his missing uncle.

"I want to tell you of what has happened here lately,"
(wrote Nat). "I have received two visits from a young fellow
named Ward Porton, who is, I believe, a moving-picture
actor, and the same fellow that you helped to rescue from a
burning steam yacht. This fellow was in town once with Link
Merwell, and then came here alone. He has been visiting a
number of people who are well acquainted with you, and also
visited the poorhouse here and talked to several of those in
authority, and those who used to have the running of the
poorhouse years ago, when you were an inmate there. This
Ward Porton acted as if he had something of great importance
on his mind, but what it was he would not tell, but he did
let slip that it was something concerning you--that there
was a big surprise in store for you. He also let slip that
he, too, had been in a poorhouse when he was a little boy,
and that he had never been able to learn where he had really
come from.

"I am writing this to put you on your guard in case he
should show himself either at your camp or at the Wadsworth
mansion after your return. I must confess that I don't like
the fellow's manner, and I rather surmise he is laying pipes
to play you some trick."

Dave read this letter over several times, and was much perplexed. He had
not forgotten what Link Merwell had said to him shortly after being
captured, nor had he forgotten the fact that he had seen Link and Ward
Porton in Crumville at the old Potts farm.

"Those fellows are certainly up to something," our hero told himself.
"Link said that I was not Dave Porter. Now, what did he mean by that?
Those fellows must be hatching up some